"I feel Harrisburg has bottomed out," Moran said. "The economic tide is going to start rolling back into Harrisburg and everyone's boat is going to go up."

Developer Ralph Vartan said the city should be poised for growth. He noted that, according to the latest census, 58,000 people work in Harrisburg every day, but only about 10,000 of those employees live in the city.

He acknowledged the deal doesn't change the city's property tax rates, but gives the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Eric Papenfuse a chance to improve the city.

"The fundamentals of Harrisburg haven't changed as a result of this deal being inked," Vartan said, "but it does allow us to deal with those fundamentals."

Sullivan was among those who backed a federal lawsuit to block the Receiver's appointment, saying the position violated the city's right to self-governance. That suit was dismissed, though it has been appealed.

"I shall remember the Harrisburg debt crisis for the state's exclusion of highly qualified minority professionals from the Act 47 and Receiver's consulting teams," Sullivan said. "However, the upside is the lesson in self reliance this 'Emperor has no clothes' political experience should teach the minority community.

"The immediate challenge for Harrisburg residents is to survive the Harrisburg Strong Plan's injustices and cope with its imperfections. That's where my focus will be."

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